How Does the 2019 Chevy Silverado Perform in Towing?
New Silverado High Country and Trail Boss are put the tow test, but one edges ahead.
One thing that Chevrolet improved upon for the 2019 Silverado is its towing capability and power. Two trims in particular seem especially up to the challenge: The High Country and the LT Trail Boss. One of the best ways to gauge its performance and capability is to take it on and off the road, bring a few toys, and see how each stacks up. LS1Tech did just that, spending a day towing Polaris RZR XP 1000 ATVs in both the High Country and LT Trail Boss Silverado.
Right off the bat, LS1Tech writer Jake Stumph noticed the improvements made to the 2019 Silverado for towing and hauling. “The 2019 Silverado has up to four cameras on tap, including a ‘hitch view’ mode with a hitch guidance line system,” he says. “The standard back-up camera has different sight modes to toggle between, and the tow-based modes show you the hitch trajectory as you back up your truck.”
Adding to the towing ease is “A rear bird’s eye mode that looks directly down upon the hitch to show how close the hitch and trailer are to one another. It works excellently. Additionally, when using the hitch view camera, the Silverado will use “auto parking brake assist” to hold the truck exactly where you parked it. This keeps everything perfectly lined up without the need to account for any rollback as the transmission engages the parking pin.”
There is also added technology in the form of an app for your phone. The app and the infotainment screen have added tow assistance. All very cool and very helpful upgrades.
But does the ease of towing also translate to better towing on the road? First up is the High Country. Stumph drove a Silverado with the optional 6.2-liter Ecotec3 V8 engine with Chevrolet’s new Dynamic Fuel Management cylinder deactivation system. This was paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The interior is well appointed, and has plenty of luxe details.
And the High Country has power, and lots of it.
“With 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque on tap, pulling the Polaris RZR and trailer was a piece of cake,” Stumph says. “That about 5,000 pound tow weight felt like chump change.”
On the road they ran into some problems, possibly a result of the tongue weight for the trailer being off. For this, the High Country does lose a few points overall.
Next, Stumph hopped into the Trail Boss. The off-road ready Trail Boss includes a 2-inch suspension lift, Z71 off-road suspension package with locking rear differential, skid plates, Rancho shocks, 18-inch wheels, and 33″ Duratrac off-road tires. Stumph called it “the most off-road capable, streetable Silverado yet.”
The 5.3-liter V8 brings a mighty 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque and is paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
“The Trail Boss is ready to rock,” says Stumph. “The few luxury amenities the Trail Boss cedes to the top-spec High Country is more than offset by the smooth powertrain and seemingly sturdier, more robust package. Oh, and despite having a lift kit, it rides as smooth as can be…check out the Silverado Trail Boss, it’s the one to get.”
So in the end the Trail Boss wins by nose for towing. But with these two outstanding Silverados, we’re guessing either truck is a win-win.
Photos: LS1Tech
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